Gallery

By Yi Gan  ¦   Steven Sapp, the former battalion chief of the Columbia Fire Department, has a retirement reception Friday. Sapp has served the community for more than 22 years since 1989.

People across the country have been feeling the effects of the excessive June heat.

By Caitlin Jones  ¦   A charity Texas Hold 'em poker game was held to benefit the Missouri Hepatitis C Alliance Thursday at Pem's Place.

By Carrie Durkee  ¦   Marilyn Wine is preparing to open a quilting shop in north Columbia's Vanderveen Plaza. The store is set to open at 10 a.m. Saturday, but in the meantime, members of Wine's quilting group have been meeting there to work on projects together and enjoy each other's company.

People found ways to cool off on Thursday as the temperature reached 107 degrees.

By Carrie Durkee  ¦   Although sidelined by a torn ACL, Laurence Bowers didn't waste time moping about his injury. The Missouri forward has made a commitment to give back to the community and spent the past week helping coach Columbia youth at a basketball skills camp similar to the ones he attended growing up in Memphis. Bowers will return for his senior season with the Tigers this fall.

By Robert Swain  ¦   The Missouri Students Association, Graduate Professional Council and the Department of Student Life puts on the Summer Film Series during the summer for students. This is the second year they have shown movies during the summer. Wrath of the Titans played Wednesday at MU's Lowry Mall.

MU Athletics Director Mike Alden announced a $30 million donation from the Kansas City Sports Trust to help fund the athletics department's master plan. The donation would be the second largest single donation to MU, exceeded only by a $31 million donation by the Reynolds Foundation to the School of Journalism.

Looking around Columbia to see how heat has affected the wildlife. Sunday temperatures at Columbia Regional Airport reached 100 degrees, the hottest day of the year so far. Forecasts for Thursday predict a high of 103 degrees.

In the southeast corner facing the 9/11 memorial, the 72-story tower that was topped off Monday is to open for business in the fall of 2013 — the first occupied high-rise at the new trade center site since the Sept. 11 attacks.

Competitors in the Major League Eating Boneless Buffalo Wings Eating Contest scarfed down nearly 100 pounds of boneless chicken Saturday before a winner was declared.

Members from the Mid-Missouri Radio Control Association take their hobby to the skies as they enjoy a cheaper, alternative way to experience aviation through radio-controlled planes and helicopters.

A group of 19 men competed for the Missouri Rock Crawlers State Championship in Capen Park on Saturday. The competitors raced the clock as they navigated their handmade radio-controlled trucks over rocky terrain.

By Carrie Durkee  ¦   Summer Expeditions, a program which encourages the pursuit of higher education in "high-risk" students, celebrated the graduation of its summer program Friday afternoon at Columbia College's Atkins-Holman Student Commons. Approximately 20 students graduated from the program.

By Yi Gan  ¦   The Columbia Refugee Garden at Broadway Christian Church has between 40 and 50 plots for refugees to grow food.

Friday marked the beginning of Missouri's period for selling fireworks. Vendors' permits will expire July 10.

By Carrie Durkee  ¦   Chronic wasting disease has been discovered in the wild deer population in Macon County, and residents are concerned about how it will affect the hunting industry in the region.

By Robert Swain  ¦   Families enjoyed entertainment and activities and interacted with animals Wednesday at the Family Fun Fest at Flat Branch Park in Columbia.

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS  ¦   The summer solstice — the official beginning of summer — arrived at 6:09 p.m. in Columbia and Wednesday is the longest day of the year. Across the country, temperatures rose to near-record highs.

By Yi Gan, Robert Swain  ¦   Summer Welcome, MU's orientation for incoming freshmen and transfer students, has been running each summer since 1969. This year's Summer Welcome includes the largest group of students in the program's history.